Control apparatus



Nov. 18, 1947. c. s. POWELL CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fig 27-- 7 1 19'. 6: INVENTOR4 I v WATNESSES: 52M WM. 59.1)- M Charles 5. Powell. "BY We]; Y

I CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES: v A vINVEMOR WWM (harles 5. Powell.

n 70AM i Patented Nov. 18, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE CONTROL APPARATUS Charles S. Powell, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 5, 1944, Serial No. 566,719

6 Claims. 1

My invention relates, generally, to control apparatus and has reference, in particular, to pushb-u't'ton control stations.

Generally stated, it is an object of my inven tion to provide an improved push-button control station that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide for so interlocking the buttons of a push-button station as to provide a slip contact which may be used to set up an alarm circuit for a circuit breaker whenever it is tripped automatically but not when it is tripped manually.

Another object of my invention is to provide for readily adapting standard designs of push-button stations for operation in circuit breaker control systems.

v Another object of my invention is to provide for locking one push button on a push-button station in an intermediate position, and for releasing it to a predetermined operating position upon operation of another push button of the station.

A further object of my invention is to provide for adapting a pair of standard push-button elements for operation in interlocked relation.

It is also an important object of my invention to provide for adding a movable interlocking member to a standard pushbutton station so as to normally maintain one of the push buttons in an intermediate operating position until another of the push buttons is operated.

Other objects will in part be obvious, and will in part be described hereinafter.

In accordance with my invention, the operation of a pair of standard push-button elements, which are spring biased to the non-operated position, may be interlocked by means of 'a slidable interlocking member, which is normally biased to move a portion thereof into interference with one of the push buttons so as to hold it in an intermediate' operating position from which it may be manually operated to the operating position only. Upon operation of the other push button, an inclined surface of the interlocking member is engaged thereby so as to actuate the interlocking member to free the other push button, which then returns to the non-operated position. I

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may be made to the following detailed description which may be studied inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view in section of a push-buttonstation embodying the invention in one of its forms;

Fig. 2 isa side elevational view in section of the push-button stationshown in Fig. I with one or the push buttons retained in an intermediate operating position by the interlockin member;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the interlocking member;

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevational view of a push-button station embodying the invention in another of its forms;

Fig. 5- is an end e'levational view of the pushbutton station shownin Fig.

Fig. 6 is a plan view, broken out in part, of the interlocking member used withthe push-button station shownin Figs. 4 and 5; and

Fig. '7 is adiagrammatical view of a circuit breaker control system illustrating an application of a push-button station embodying the invention.

' Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the reference numerals l-[i and- II may denote, generally, similar push-button elements of a well-known design, which are disposed to be mounted on a base or cover member I2 having openings M and F5 for receiving the operating portions ofthe push buttons it and [1, respectively.

The push-button elements may be of any suitable design comprising, for example, body or housing members ill of insulating material wherein may be slidably supported means such as the pins (9 upon which movable contact or bridge mem-' bers' 28 and it may be supported for engaging pairs of stationary contact members Hla, "lb and Na, l I-b. Operation of the contact members may be effected by means of the push buttons l6 and H which may be secured to the pins IS in any suitable manner, and provided with enlarged shoulder portions 24- and 25 positionedwithin openings 26- and 21 inthe body members. The contact members 20 and H may be normally biased into engagement with the stationary contact members Mia and no by means of springs 28 mounted within the body members. Openings 3i and 3| may be provided in one side of the'bo-d-y members for gaining access to the shoulder portions of the push buttons, for a reason which will hereinafter be explained in detail.

In order to provide, in effect, a slip contact such as may be used in controlling the operation of a circuit breaker or the like, means such as the movable interlocking member 32 may be provided for controlling the operation of one of the push buttons, for example, the push button [6. As shown in Figs. 1', 2 and- 3, the interlocking member 3-2 may comprise, generally, a relatively thin plate 3'4 which mayb slidably positioned beli enthe push-button elements and the base or cover which may be positioned in spaced relation by projections 33 or by means of brackets 35 shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The plate may be pro vided with elongated spaced openings 35 and 31 therein for receiving th projecting portions of the push buttons l5 and I! so as to allow longitudinal movement of the plate relative thereto.

In order to control the operation of the push button l6, suitable means may be provided on the plate 34 for projecting into the opening 30 of the element Hi to interfere with the shoulder portion 24 of th push button l5. For example, a projection or a button 38 may be provided adjacent one end and disposed to be positioned between the shoulder portion 24 and the cover |2 when the push button [6 is operated. Means such as the spring 39 may be provided for normally biasing the interlocking member to bring the projection 38 into interference with the shoulder portion 24-.

Release of the push button l6 to the non-operated position may be effected by providing for movement of the interlocking member to free the projection 38 from the shoulder portion 25 whenever the push button I6 is operated. For example, a projection or abutment 40 may b provided on the plate 34 having an inclined surface portion 4| for projecting into the opening 30 in the pushbutton element H to effect engagement with the enlarged shoulder portion 25 of the push button IS. The projection 40 may also be provided with a recess 42 for receiving one end of the spring 39 so as to maintain it in operating relation with the housing of the push-button element l0.

With the push-button station in the operating position shown in Fig. 1, the push button ll may be operated without effecting the position of the push button |6,- and it will return to the nonoperated position upon release. However, when the push button I6 is operated to bring the contact member 20 into engagement with the stationary contact members |b, the spring 39 forces the interlocking member 32 to the left as soon as the shoulder portion 24 of the push button clears the projection 38. Upon release, the push button l5 can only return to an intermediate operating position, as shown in Fig. 2, by reason of the projection 38 being in interference with the shoulder portion 24. Release of the push button I6 to the non-operated position may be efiected by operating the push button l1. Upon engagement of the shoulder portion 25 with the inclined surface 4| of the projection 40, the interlocking member 32 is actuated against the force of the spring 39 and toward the right, thus freeing the projection 38 from the shoulder portion 24 of the push button l6. The push button l6 returns to 2181s non-operated position by reason of the spring Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it may be seen that the push-button elements l0 and H are substantially identical with the elements In and H of Figs. 1 and 2 and have corresponding parts identifled by the same numerals used in Fi s 1 and 2. The elements In and l I may be secured to the base or cover member l2 by means of screws 44 which extend through the body members of the elements and are threaded into the inturned portions 45 of the brackets 35 secured to the base member.

Since openings are thereby provided by the inturned portions 45 of the brackets and the body portions thereof, use may be made of these open- 'ings for supporting an interlocking member instead of positioning the member in the manner described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. For example, the interlocking member may comprise a substantially open frame having spaced apart side members 41, which may be slidably positioned in the openings provided between the inturned portions of the brackets and the body portions thereof.

The side members may be maintained in spaced relation by means of end members 48 and 49 secured thereto in any suitable manner, and an intermediate transverse member 50 as shown in Fig. 6. If desired, the side and end members may be formed integrally, such as by punching them out of a piece of plate metal or the like. A projection 5| may be provided on one end member for engaging the shoulder portion 24 of the push button I 6 to maintain it in an intermediate position after operation in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

Means such as the projection 52 may be provided on the intermediate transverse member 50 having a sloping surface portion 53 for engagement by the shoulder portion 25 of the push button IT for actuating the interlocking member to free the projection 5| from the shoulder portion 24- of the push button l6.

Means such as the spring 55 may be provided for normally biasing the interlocking member to cause interference of the projection 5| with the shoulder portion of the push button l6.

Operation of the push-button station shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 is substantially identical with that described in connection with the pushbutton station of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Accordingly, details of the push button construction have been purposely omitted in Figs. 4 and 5 in the interests of simplicity, and only the outlines thereof are shown.

Referring to Fig. 7, the reference numeral may denote, generally, a circuit breaker having contact members 60A for controlling the energization' of a load 5| from a source such as the generator 62. The circuit breaker may be of any suitable type having, for example, an operating mechanism comprising a solenoid 64 having an operating winding 65 and operatively connected to the circuit breaker contact members through a lever mechanism 66 provided with latching members 61 and 58. Means such as the trip device 69 may be provided for releasing the latch member 68 to open the circuit breaker upon energization of the trip winding 10.

Energization of the circuit breaker operating winding 65 may be efiected under the control of a control relay 12 having an operating winding 13 for actuating a toggle armature mechanism 14 to close contact members 12a, and a release winding for actuating the armature T4 to open said contact members. The operating and release windings may be so disposed that when the release winding 15 is connected in parallel with the operating winding 13, it is sufficiently strong enough and has a sufficiently low impedance so as to weaken the energization of the operating Winding 13 to cause operation of the armature T4 to open contact members 12a.

Operation of the control relay 12 may be effected by means of a push-button station having a push button l8 with, normally open contact members llb for connecting the operating winding 73 to the source. Normally closed contact members ||a of the push button l'| may be used to provide an energizing circuit for an alarm T! in conjunction with normally closed contact members |0a of the push button l5. Normally open contact members tllb maybe provided for effecting energization of the. trip winding Id when it is desired to. trip the circuit breaker manually.

The: circuit breaker 60 may be provided with suitable means, such as the current relay [8, for eifecting energization of the trip winding 'Ill to open the circuit breaker whenever the load current exceeds a predetermined value. v

In order to provide for operating the alarm 1'! whenever the circuit breaker is. tripped by the current responsive relay 18, the push buttons l6 and Ill may be. provided with an interlocking member 32 of the nature described hereinbefore in connection with. Figs. 1 through 6. With the circuit breaker in the closed position as shown, the circuit breaker may be tripped through operation. of the current responsive relay 18 which provides an energizing circuit for the trip winding 10 extending through the circuit from the conductor so through. contact members 18a,- com ductor 8i, contact members 6019 of the circuit breaker trip winding 10, back to the source through conductor 82.

As soon as the circuit breaker opens, an energizing circuit is provided for the alarm H to the circuit extending from the conductor 86, through conductor 83, contact members Ida, contact members I la, contact members 60a, alarm ll, back to the source through conductor 82.

Reclosure of the circuit. breaker may be eifected by depressing the push button I! so as to complete an energizing circuit of the operating winding 13 of the control relay, through contact members I lb of the push button H. The armature 14 is thereby actuated to close contact members 12a and provide an obvious energizing circuit for the operating windings 65 of the circuit breaker.

Immediately upon closure of the circuit breaker, an energizing circuit is provided for the release winding 15 of the control relay through contact members 660 of the circuit breaker in parallel circuit relation with the operating windlugs 13. The release winding 15 overcomes the operating winding 13 so that the armature 14 is actuated to open contact members 72a and eifect deenergization of the circuit breaker operating winding 65.

The circuit breaker may be tripped manually by operating the push button IE to provide an energizing circuit for the trip winding 7d through contact members Hlb. Upon operation of the push button It, the interlocking member 32 moves to the left so that the projection 38 is positioned behind a shoulder portion 24 of the push button and prevents its return to the non-operated position. Accordingly, both contact members 10a and lb will be open. When the circuit breaker opens and closes contact members 50a, energization of the alarm 17 is prevented since the alarm circuit is open at contact members I I a.

From the above description and the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that I have provided, in a simple and effective manner, for adapting push buttons of standard design for operation in interlocked relation. According to the embodiments of my invention, a minimum of time and expense only are necessary in making the adaptation, and a suitable control station may thereby be provided for effecting operation of a circuit breaker.

Since certain changes may be made in the above-describe construction, and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from th spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above ing shall be considered; as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

L A push-button station comprising, a plurality of push buttons operable against biasing means, one of said push buttons having a pair of different operating positions, and an interlocking member normally biased in one direction to interfere with said one of the push buttons and retain it under the action of said biasing means in an operating position intermediate said different operating positions after operation, said member being operable in the opposite direction to release. said push button from said intermediate position in response to operation of another of the push buttons.

2. A push-button station comprising, a pair of push-button elements each having a push button biased. to one position and operable to another position, a s-lidable interlocking member having a. portion interfering with one of the push buttons to retain it in an intermediate position between said one position and said another position after operationv and a; portion interfering with the other push button for actuating "the member out of interference with the one push button upon operation of the other push button, and means biasing the interlocking member to move the portion into interference with said one push button.

3. A push-button station comprising, a base member, a pair of push-button elements each having associated normally open and normally closed contact members operable by push buttons projecting through the base member, an interlocking member positioned adjacent the base member having a shoulder portion disposed to interfere with one of the push buttons to retain its elements in an intermediate operating position intermediate its normally open and normally closed contacts after operation and an additional shoulder portion disposed to engage the other push button when it is operated and actuate the interlocking member to move the first-mentioned shoulder portion out of interference with said one push button, and means biasing the interlocking member to move the first-mentioned shoulder portion into interference with the said one push button.

4. In a push-button station, an elongated support, a pair of push-button elements mounted on the support and having contact means actuable to different operating positions by push buttons projecting through the support and having enlarged shoulder portions to the rear thereof, a plate member slidably positioned between the push-button elements and the support, said plate member having an abutment disposed to interfere with the shoulder portion of one of the push buttons to retain the one push button in an operating position intermediate said different operating positions and an additional abutment having an inclined surface disposed to engage the shoulder portion of the other button and actuate the plate member to free the first-mentioned abutment from interference with the shoulder portion of said one push button, and means biasing the plate member to move the firstmentioned abutment into interference with the shoulder portion of said one push button.

5. In a push-button station, a pair of pushbutton elements each having a housing with contact members positioned therein biased to one operating position and operable to another operating position by push buttons having enlarged shoulder portions within the housings with operating portions of reduced sections projecting therefrom, an elongated base member having an opening for each of the projecting push-button portions, bracket means secured to the base mem her and having inturned end portions spaced from the base member for receiving retaining means for securing each of the push-button elements to the base member, an interlocking member slidably supported between the base member and the push-button elements by the inturned end portions of the bracket means and having a portion for interfering with the shoulder portion of one of the push buttons to retain it in an intermediate position between said operating positions after operation and an additional portion having an inclined surface portion for engaging the shoulder portion of the other push button upon operation of said other push button to move the first-mentioned portion out of interferenc with the shoulder portion of said one push button, and means biasing the interlocking member to move said first-mentioned portion into interference with the shoulder portion of said one push Y button.

6. A control system for a circuit breaker having an operating winding and a trip winding comprising, means operable to energize the trip winding in response to a fault condition in a circuit controlled by the circuit breaker, a circuit breaker having an operating winding for operating the relay to efiect energization of the circuit breaker operating winding and a release winding for operating the relay to deenerglze the circuit breaker operating winding, an alarm bell, and a push-button station having a pair of push-button elements with movable contact members normally biased by spring means one operating position to provide an energizing circuit for the alarm when the circuit breaker is tripped by the fault responsive means, said contact members being respectively operable to different operating positions to provide for energization of the circuit breaker relay operating winding and the trip winding, and interlock means normally actuable in response to operation of the operating winding push button operable to retain the trip winding push button in an intermediate non-operating position after it has been operated to energize the trip winding, whereby the energizing circuit for the alarm is interrupted, said interlock means being actuable upon operation of the circuit breaker relay push button to free the trip winding push button from the intermediate position.

CHARLES S. POWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,695,178 Clement Dec. 11, 1928 947,722 Sweet Jan. 25, 1910 

